Designer T-shirts (Pixabay)

Overall, the cost of imported knitted or crocheted T-shirts totaled US$50.4 billion in 2025.

That dollar amount results from a 16.4% average increase for all importing countries from five years earlier in 2021 when international purchases of imported T-shirts cost $43.3 billion.

Year over year, worldwide T-shirt imports grew overall purchases by 5.8% compared to $47.7 billion during 2024.

From a continental perspective, buyers based in Europe purchased the highest dollar worth of imported T-shirts at $26.9 billion or over half (53.3%) of the global total for 2025. In second place were importers in Asia at 20.6% while another 17% of T-shirts imported worldwide was delivered to customers in North America.

Smaller percentages went to buyers in Latin America (4.9%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean, Oceania (2.1%) led by Australia and New Zealand, then those in Africa (2%).

Cotton is the dominant material for T-shirt manufacturing. Cotton T-shirts accounted for $35.3 billion in worldwide purchases or approaching three-quarters (70%) of all T-shirts imported during 2025.

Similar apparel made from textiles other than cotton equaled $15.1 billion for the remaining 30%.

For research purposes, the 4-digit Harmonized Tariff System code prefix for knitted or crocheted T-shirt is 6109. Drilling down, cotton T-shirts fall under 610910 while T-shirts made from other materials are categorized as 610990.

By value, the listed 15 countries purchased over two-thirds (67.1%) of all T-shirts imported in 2025.

Among the above countries, the fastest-growing markets for T-shirts since 2021 were: Poland (up 68.6%), Spain (up 41.5%), Canada (up 27.8%) and Japan (up 27.2%).

Those countries that posted 5-year declines in their imported T-shirts purchases were led by: mainland China (down -17.4% from 2021), Belgium (down -12.5%) and the United States of America (down -8.8%).

By value, the listed 15 countries purchased 67.4% of all cotton T-shirts imported in 2025.

Among the above countries, the fastest-growing markets for cotton T-shirts since 2021 were: Poland (up 67.5%), Spain (up 35.6%), Canada (up 29.2%) and Japan (up 19.9%).

Those countries that posted 5-year declines in their imported cotton T-shirts purchases were: mainland China (down -20.6%), Belgium (down -18.1%), United States of America (down -8.5%) and the United Kingdom (down -3%).

By value, the listed 15 countries purchased 67.1% of all non-cotton T-shirts imported in 2025.

Among the above countries, the fastest-growing markets for non-cotton T-shirts since 2021 were: Poland (up 72.7%), Italy (up 68.7%), Spain (up 58.9%) and Switzerland (up 45.9%).

A pair among the above-listed countries that posted 5-year declines in their imported non-cotton T-shirts purchases were the United States of America (down -9.5%) and mainland China (down -6.9%).